Boring type mining machine with adjustable boring head



April 14," 1959 E. J. HLINSKY BORING TYPE MINING MACHINE WITH ADJUSTABLE BORING HEAD Filed April 25, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 74 T TORNEV R V1 #535 0 .k kosqubwgmm n W 9: Y Q m m V H NE a QN W m3 4 k3 5$ 22 v H vs E R E W. Z. R

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E. J. HLINSKY April 14, 1959 BORING TYPE MINING MACHINE WITH ADJUSTABLE BORING HEAD Filed April 25. 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 QEmR Kw INVENTOR. Emil J. Hlinsky April 14,1959 I E. JHLINSKY 2,882,031

N BORING TYPE MINING MACHINE-WITH ADJUSTABLE BORING HEAD Filed April 25, 1958 v s Sheets-Sheet3 O r R Q 9! l\ N a) I:

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03 J0 I N I 5 L T (g O 0 m o) In I p v a M v =00 Q a I h m w v Emil J. Hhnsky ATTORNEY tfi states Pateh, O

/ 2,882,031 BORING TYPE MINING MACHINE WITH ADJUSTABLE BORING HEAD Emil I. Hlinsky, La Grange Park, Ill., assignor to Goodman Manufacturing Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application April 23, 1958, Serial No. 730,356 4 Claims. .(Cl. 262- 7) This invention relates generally to boring type mining machines and more particularly-to hydraulic means for adjusting the cutting diameter of a boring head.

- In boring type mining machines, it is desirable to provide a cutting head having adjustable cutter elements so that the machine can be readily withdrawn from the holewhich it has previously cut. To this end, many boring type mining machines are provided with devices .for retracting the cutters out of engagement with the wallsof the mine when the machine is maneuvered to and from the working place. Some of the aforesaid devices are manually removable or pivotally movable to a clearance position. Other devices have been in the nature of mechanical linkages operable from the operators control point and capable of transmitting motion around the corner and through a rotating joint. Such mechanical linkages usually consist of numerous parts and very often impose undesirable restrictions on the design of boring machines as a result of their space requirements.

The direct application of hydraulic piston and cylinder devices to the movable cutters has proven unsatisfactory as a result of leakage in the rotating joint required to transmit fluid between the rotating cylinder and control point. While such joints can be provided to operate satisfactorily at normal operating pressures, the extremely high pressures resulting from external forces tending to collapse the cutter often cause leakage at the rotating joint.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a hydraulic piston and cylinder device for moving the cutter of a boring type mining machine -to and from its cutting position, in which the control circuit is divided into low and high pressure portions, isolatable from one another, having the operators controls and a rotary joint in the low pressure portion thereof. A further object is to provide a control circuit for a hydraulic piston and cylinder device isolatable into low and high pressure portions wherein high pressures generated by external forces on the piston member are confined to the high pressure portion of the circuit.

Other'objects and advantages will more fully appear as the following description proceeds.

' In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation view of a boring type mining machine in which the present invention is applicable;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary, longitudinal, sectional view of the boring head of Figure 1 having an adjustable cutter according to the present invention including a control circuit therefor;

Figure 3 is a view showing an alternate control valve for the circuit of Figure 2;

' Figure 4 is a section view taken along the line 44 of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing an alternate embodiment of the present invention.

It will be noted that the sectional views in Figures 2, 3 and 5 are reversed relative to Figure 1, for convenience in illustration.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral designates a boring type 'mining machine having a frame 11 on which is mounted an adjustable superstructure 12. An adjustable boring assembly 13 is Patented Apr. 14,1959

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rotatably mounted in gear box 14 forming a part of superstructure 12. The gear box also supports a trimming chain 16 mounted for adjustment relative to the box on jacks 17 and 18. Deflector plates 19 and 21 are respectively mounted on the gear box and the lower chain guide 22 in overlapping relation, and are effective to act as a barrier preventing broken and dislodged material from packing between superstructure 12 and frame 11. The superstructure 12 is supported on and adjustable relative to frame 11 by jacks 23 and 24. A motor, not shown, is mounted on the superstructure and furnishes power to drive boring assemblies 13 and chain 16 through a gear reduction transmission in gear box 14.

In addition to superstructure 12, frame 11 carries a conveyor 26 extending from the vicinity of barrier plates 19, 21 at the front, to a position overhanging the rear of the machine. The overhanging rear portion of the conveyor is pivotal in a vertical plane by jacks, not shown, and is swingable from side to side by means of jacks 27 in order to load onto a haulage device. The frame 11 carries motors, controls and pumps for driving and controlling the tractors, conveyor and auxiliary adjusting and supporting jacks.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 2, there is shown a section through an adjustable boring assembly 13 including an adjusting piston and cylinder device together with the control circuit and valves therefor. The boring assembly 13 is comprised of a shaft 31, rotatably journaled in bearings 33 and 34, having a hollow radial extension 32. The shaft 31 is driven within gear box 14 by gear 36 and has an axial cavity 37 running lengthwise. The forward end of cavity 37 provides locating means for a central pilot cutter 38 which is fastened to the shaft in an axial direction by screws not shown. An annular cutter 39 at a fixed radius is mounted on radial extension 32. An adjustable annular cutter 41 is moved to and from cutting position by telescoping arm 42 to which it is secured. The arm 42 moves to and from the axis of shaft 31 in the hollow radial extension 32. The telescoping arm 42 is restrained from rotation by keys 43 and 44 working in keyways 46 and 47. The end of radial extension 32 is closed by seals and rings 48 and 49 which also cooperate with keys 43 and 44 to form stop surfaces limiting the outward travel, or

, extension, of telescoping arm 42 and cutter 41.

, and port 64 admitting fluid to retract the piston. The port 63 is connected to a pilot operated check valve 66 by conduit 67. The check valve 66 is illustrated as having a seat 69 engaging a mating plug 68 which has a stem 71 connected to pilot piston 72. The plug 68 is disposed within valve 66 in a manner to prevent backflow from the cylinder but permitting flow to the cylinder through port 63. Thus an external force applied to cutter 41 or arm 42 tending to move it from its cutting position will be resisted by a column of fluid trapped between piston 51 and plug 68 of check valve 66. When it is desired to retract cutter 41, fluid is supplied to pilot piston 72 which lifts plug 68 off seat 69 to permit backflow through valves 66. A first conduit 73 supplies fluid to check valve 66, a second conduit 74 supplies fluid directly to port 64 of cylinder 52 and a third conduit 76 valve 66. The three conduits 73, 74 and 76 communicate respectively with three annular grooves 77, 78 and t 79 forming part of a rotating joint. The three grooves 77, 78 and 79 are formed partly in stationary external member 81, fastened to a wall of the gear box 14, and partly in a rotating inner member 82 which forms an extension of" shaft 31. Internal and external members 81 and 82. have close fitting clearances and turn relative to each other in the manner of a journal and bearing. Grooves 77, 78 and 79 are sealed from one another by packings 83, 84, 86 and 87 which seal the above-mentioned clearance to prevent leakage lengthwise between the internal and external members. Grooves 77, 78 and 79 are ported respectively to conduits 88, 89 and 91 which communicate with a valve control bank 92.

Pressure fluid is introduced through pressure line 93 to valve bank 92 where it is divided between the passages 94 and 96. When valve spools 97, 98 and 99 are in the solid line position shown, passage 94 communicates with tank line 101 through an upper passage 103 to allow unrestricted flow through valve 92. Passage 94 also communicates with relief valve 102 which is placed ahead of upper passage 103 in order to relieve pressures in excess of the predetermined working pressure.

When spool 97 is moved into the valve block to the dash line position shown, land 104 seals upper passage 103 at shoulder 106 preventing flow to tank line 101. Land 107 is also moved to uncover port 108 and seal middle passage 109 from port 108 at the shoulder 111. Fluid from pressure line 93 then flows through passage 96 to lower passage 112 to port 108 and into conduit 88. From conduit 88 the fluid passes through the rotary joint 81, 82 to the first conduit 73. First conduit 73 communicates with the point of plug 68 whereby pressure fluid in first conduit 73 is effective to unseat plug 68 and flow through conduit 67 and port 63 to piston 51. Fluid introduced to piston 51 in this manner moves the piston outward to extend arm 42 and cutter 41. Fluid on the rod side of piston 51 escapes through ports 64 to the second conduit 74 where it passes through rotary joint 81, 82 to conduit 89. Conduit 89 communicates with port 113 in control valve block 92 which in turn communicates with middle passage 109 to connect with tank line 101. Thus the cutter can be extended without regard to check valve 66.

When it is desired to retract cutter 41, spool 98 is moved into the body of valve 92 to a position where land 114 laps shoulder 116 to seal upper passage 103. Land 117 has been moved inward to a position where it laps shoulder 118 sealing the port 113 from middle passage 109 and allowing communication between port 113 and lower passage 112. Fluid from pressure line 93 moves through passage 96 to lower passage 112 to port 113 and into conduit 89. From conduit 89 the fluid moves through the rotary joint 81, 82 to the second conduit 74 where it is conducted to the rod side of piston 51 through port 64. The pressure fluid tends to move piston 51 inward but is prevented from so doing by a column of fluid trapped between the head end of piston 51 and the large end of plug 68 in the check valve 66. It is obvious that neither increased pressure of the fluid in second conduit 74 nor external forces on cutter 41 will be effective, without more, to retract cutter 41; instead the effect would be to more firmly engage the plug 68 with the seat 69 to prevent backflow through check valve 66. The cutter 41 is eifectively locked in cutting position by the column of fluid and the stop surface provided by the keys 43 and 44. In order to retract cutter 41 it is necessary to operate pilot spool 99 moving it into valve body 92. When the spool is moved inward, land 119 is moved to a position lapping shoulder 121 where port 122 is sealed from middle passage 109 but open with respect to lower passage 112. Thus the pressure fluid. already described as being in lower passage 112 passes through port 122 to conduit 91. From conduit 91, pres sure fluid passes through rotary joint 81, 82 to a third conduit 76 from which it is introduced to pilot piston 72 in check valve 66. The pressure fluid acting on pilot piston 72 is effective to unseat plug 68 to allow backflow through check valve 66. When plug 68 is unseated, the column of fluid previously resisting movement of piston 51 is drained through first conduit 73, and rotary joint 81, 82 to conduit 88. From conduit 88 the fluid enters valve 92 through port 108 and passes to middle passage 109 and thence out through tank line 101.

In the above description, the operation of retraction spool 98 and pilot spool 99 has been mentioned sequentially but the operation could as well be simultaneous. While the above circuit provides the operator with the maximum amount of inching control over the movement of cutter 41, it is possible to devise a simpler circuit, an example of which is shown in Figure 3.

In the embodiment of Figure 3, the first, second and third conduits 73, 74. and 76, carry on the same, function assigned to them in the embodiment of Figure 2, however the second and third conduits 74 and 76, communicate with a common groove 122 in the rotating joint comprising rotating member 124 and stationary member 126. The first conduit 73 communicates with groove 123 in rotary joint 124, 126. Thus, in this embodiment, conduit 128 supplies pressure fluid to both the second and third. conduits 74 and 76 simultaneously, while conduit 127 supplies first conduit 73. Where the two conduits 127 and 128 control the extension and retraction of cutter 41, it is possible to use a single control valve 129 having a three position spool 131. Fluid from pressure line 132v divides between passages 133 and 134 and in the neutral solid line position shown moves through passages 136 and 137 to tank line 138. When the spool 131 is moved in a direction to withdraw it from valve body 129 land 139 laps shoulder 141 blocking the passage of fluid through 136 to tank line. 138. At the same time, land 142 is moved out of engagement with shoulder 143 to allow com munication between passage 134 and port 147 connected to conduit 127. Land 144 has moved into lapping en gagement with shoulder 146 to seal port 147 from passage 137 and tank line 138. When spool 131 is moved into the body of valve 129, land 148 laps shoulder 141 to seal passage 136 and establish pressure in passage 134. At the same time land 142 has been moved out of engagement with shoulder 149 allowing fluid to flow from pas sage 134 to port 151 and conduit 128, and land 152 has moved into engagement with shoulder 153 to seal port 151 from passage 137 and tank line 138.

In the embodiment of Figures 2 and 3, the telescoping arm is extended until keys 43 abut seal 48 to limit its outward range of travel, while the column of fluid prevents inward or retracting movement. In some cases it may be desirable to provide a boring assembly 13 having more than a single working diameter. The embodiment of Figure 5 provides a pair ofpilot operated check valves 66 and 166 which block backflow from both faces of piston 51 in order to maintain the piston 51 and consequently the arm 42 and cutter 41 in a predetermined cutting position against external forces tending either to extend or retract the cutter. Operation is effected through a control valve 129 already described in conjunction with Figure 3.

When it is desired to extend the cutter in the embodiment of Figure 5, pressure is established in conduit 127 by operation of valve 129. Groove 177 communicates with the point end of plug 68 of check valve 66 through conduit 73, the spring loaded plug 68 being unseated to allow flow to the head end of piston 51 through conduit 67. In addition, the groove 177 supplies pressure fluid through conduit 179 to a pilot piston 172 of a second pilot operated check valve 166 which unseats plug 168 to allow backflow from the rod end of piston 51 through conduits 167 and 174 to groove 178 from which it goes to tank through valve, 129. Conversely, when it is desired to retract cutter 41, valve 129 is operated to supply pressure fluid to conduit 123 and groove 178. Groove 178 communicates simultaneously with pilot piston 72 of check valve 66 and with the point end of plug 168 in check valve 166 through conduits 76 and 174 respectively. The pressure fluid in conduits 174 is effective to unseat plug 168 and flow to the rod side of piston 51 to move the piston in a retracting direction. The fluid behind piston 51 is allowed to backflow through check valve 66 since plug 68 has been previously unseated due to the actuation of pilot piston 72.

In operation, cutter 41 is moved into cutting position by piston and cylinder device 51, 52, the movement of which is controlled by its control valve. For the Figures 1 and 5 embodiment, this is valve 129; for Figure 2, it is valve 92. The fluid conduits 73 and 74 have, interposed therein, pilot operated check valve 66 (and, in the case of Figure 5, another pilot valve 166) which serves to block backflow from piston 51 keeping the cutter 41 in cutting position against the urgence of external forces on cutter 41. The location of check valve 66 (and 166) is such that the high pressure generated by these external forces is isolated from rotary joint members 81 and 82 (or 124 and 126). During the boring operation, a column of fluid trapped between a face of piston 51 and check valve 66 (or 166) holds the cutter 41 in cutting position. The conduits from the check valve (or valves) to the control valve may have little or no pressure except when the position of the cutter is being changed, and therefore would not be subject to continuous leakage as would be the case if cutter 41 were held in position by fluid under pressure from a pump.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention, herein shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a boring type mining machine, a frame, a boring assembly rotatably mounted on said frame; a cutter carried by said boring assembly and movable to and from a cutting position; cylinder means carried by and rotatable with said boring assembly and connected between said boring assembly and cutter; a first conduit connected to said cylinder means being effective, when pressurized, to move said cutter to its said cutting position, a second conduit connected to said cylinder means effective, when pressurized, to move said cutter from its said cutting position, said first and second conduits extending from said boring assembly to said frame and having a rotatable coupling between said frame and said boring assembly, a pressure source carried by said frame, a control valve carried by said frame connected between said conduits and pressure source and effective to selectively pressurize either of said conduits, a normally closed pilot operated check valve in said first conduit effective, when closed, to prevent backflow from said cylinder means for holding the cutter in its cutting position without pressure from said source, pressure operated pilot means effective, when pressurized, to open said check valve to enable moving said cutter from its said cutting position, a third conduit connected to said pilot means, means interconnecting said second and third conduits for concurrent pressurization by said control valve enabling the automatic opening of said first conduit responsive to pressurizing the second conduit incidental to moving said cutter from its cutting position.

2. In a boring type mining machine, a frame, a boring assembly rotatably mounted on said frame; a cutter carried by said boring assembly and movable to and from a cutting position; cylinder means carried by and rotatable with said boring assembly and connected between said boring assembly and cutter; a first conduit connected to said cylinder means being effective, when pressurized, to move said cutter to its said cutting position, a second conduit connected to said cylinder means effective, when pressurized, to move said cutter from its said cutting position, said first and second conduits extending from said boring assembly to said frame and having a rotatable coupling between said frame and said boring assembly, a pressure source carried by said frame, a control valve carried by said frame connected between said conduits and pressure source and effective to selectively pressurize either of said conduits, a normally closed pilot operated check valve in each of said conduits effective, when closed, to prevent backflow from said cylinder means for holding the cutter in its cutting position without pressure from said source, pressure operated pilot means for each check valve effective, when pressurized, to open its respective check valve to enable moving said cutter from its said cutting position, means interconnecting said sec ond conduit with the pilot means for the check valve in said first conduit, and means interconnecting said first conduit with the pilot means for the check valve in said second conduit for concurrent pressurization by said control valve enabling the automatic opening of either of said conduits responsive to pressurizing the other conduit incidental to moving said cutter from its cutting position.

3. In a boring type mining machine, a frame, a boring assembly rotatably mounted on said frame; a cutter carried by said boring assembly and movable to and from a cutting position; cylinder means carried by and rotatable With said boring assembly and connected between said boring assembly and cutter; a conduit connected to said cylinder means being effective, when pressurized, to move said cutter to its said cutting position, said conduit extending from said boring assembly to said frame and having a rotatable coupling between said frame and said boring assembly, a pressure source carried by said frame, a control valve carried by said frame and being connected between said coupling and said pressure source and effective at times to pressurize said conduit, a check valve carried by the boring assembly in said conduit between the cylinder means and the rotatable coupling and being effective to prevent backflow from said cylinder means for holding the cutter in its cutting position without pressure from said source, and means for holding said check valve open, when desired, to enable moving said cutter from its said cutting position.

4. In a boring type mining machine, a frame, a boring assembly rotatably mounted on said frame; a cutter car ried by said boring assembly and movable to and from a cutting position; cylinder means carried by and rotatable with said boring assembly and connected between said boring assembly and cutter; a first conduit connected to said cylinder means being effective, when pressurized, to move said cutter to its said cutting position, said conduit extending from said boring assembly to said frame and having a rotatable coupling between said frame and said boring assembly, a pressure source carried by said frame, a control valve carried by said frame and being connected between said coupling and said pressure source and eifective at times to pressurize said conduit, a check valve carried by the boring assembly in said first conduit between the cylinder means and the rotatable coupling and being effective to prevent backflow from said cylinder means for holding the cutter in its cutting position without pressure from said source, pressure operated pilot means effective, when pressurized, to open said check valve to enable moving said cutter from its said cutting position, a second conduit extending from said pilot means through said rotatable coupling to said power source, and control means between said coupling and said pressure source for selectively pressurizing said second conduit to operate said pilot means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,707,626 Cartlidge May 3, 1955 2,720,755 Gardiner Oct. 18, 1955 2,734,731 Cartlidge et a1. Feb. 14, 1956 2,801,094 Ball July 30, 1957 

